Home Selling Costs Will Affect The Proceeds From A Sale
There are several expenses that figure into the home selling costs before you can determine the actual proceeds from the sale. One of the largest of these expenses could be the real estate commission. However, using the services of one of these experienced professionals can eliminate much of the stress associated with selling a home, so it is well worth the cost.
Usually all of these expenses are deductible from the final selling price for tax purposes. One of the advantages of a real estate professional’s services is the assistance he or she can give with tracking these expenditures. Having an accurate total of these home selling costs is beneficial when submitting income tax documents.
Other expenditures that occur are transfer taxes and property taxes. Legal fees related to the closing of the sale process are a cost of the sale. If there is an unpaid balance on the mortgage, this amount will be deducted from the selling price. Request a payoff statement from the lender to confirm the correct amount owed. The lender may charge a fee for this service which is also deductible as an expense of the sale.
The money paid for any repairs to the home to get it in salable condition is included as an expense of the sale. A home inspection will determine the extent of the needed repairs. Such damage as termite repairs can result in an extremely high unexpected expense in some cases. There is a cost for the home inspection itself. Depending on the terms of the sales contract the need to update or replace appliances could exist. This could require a relatively large outlay of cash. There will be costs associated with moving to another place of residence. These costs are included in the accounting of selling expenditures.
Transfer fees for changing schools for the children or gym fees add to selling costs. Storage of household furnishings during the moving process are included in the cost of changing residences. Depending on the distance of the new home from the home being sold, relocation expenses could require quite a large cash outlay.
Other problems can exist that decrease the proceeds of the sale. These include paying off any liens that have been placed on the property. Home owner association assessments must be cleared off the balance sheet. Any unexpected expenses can increase home selling costs. There are times when last minute disagreements between the buyer and the seller increase the amount a seller must pay in order for a sale to close. Depending on the reason for the sale, it is to the seller’s advantage to assume the expenditure so that the sale can close.
